Chinese Dynasties

Chinese Dynasties

Ancient China did not have the concept of ‘country.’ While hegemons frequently battled over territory, national borders were rarely permanently defined. Instead, these lords believed in a basic principle: All lands were under the watch of Heaven, and belonged to no earthly king.

But dynasties united China as effectively as a country. The emperor, known as the Son of Heaven, granted titles to rulers of surrounding territories. By accepting the titles, they became officials of the established dynasty, and were expected to pay tribute to the emperor. Dynasties thus united multiple regions and ethnic groups under a single administration.

The Xia became China’s first dynasty 4,000 years ago. Qing was its last, ruling from 1644 to 1911. Since the Qin, around 200 B.C., powerful dynasties unified “all under Heaven” and deeply influenced Chinese and world history. And because each dynasty was unique, it left behind a rich array of cultures for posterity to admire.

Interact with Shen Yun:

Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers.
For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”